Frank Whately (writer and director of the original productions) is now Head of the School of Performance and Screen Studies at Kingston University and a director of Kingston Theatre Trust. He says:
‘I am delighted that Kingston University will be playing such an important part in the inaugural season of the Rose Theatre. We are looking forward to auditioning girls and boys from all our local schools to join the company which will include students from the University in this exciting production. The first round of auditions on Sunday 16th December will give Kingston’s young people an opportunity to experience the wonderful new stage at first hand. Twenty will become a part of the Ragged Child company which will be performing there in April.’
At the auditions, candidates will be taught some music from the show and will be required to sing. They will also be asked to read from the script and to improvise. Those interested MUST contact the School of Performance by e-mail (f.whately@kingston.ac.uk), or by letter to Frank Whately, School of Performance and Screen Studies, FASS, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston, KT1 2EE to sign up for auditions.
Audition sessions for 10 – 18 year olds will be at 10.00am, 12.15pm and 2.30pm at the Rose Theatre.
The Ragged Child is a powerful and exciting piece of ensemble music theatre telling the story of two of 40,000 destitute children in London in the 1850s and dealing with the pioneering work of Lord Shaftesbury, the Ragged Schools and Australian emigration.